Here’s what conservative voters need to know.
The House Ethics Committee confirmed Friday that Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, is currently the subject of a formal ethics review following a referral from the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC).
In a notice published on its official website, the House Ethics Committee emphasized that the referral itself does not indicate any violation of House rules, nor does it represent a judgment about Rep. Mace’s conduct.
At this time, the specific reason for the review has not been publicly disclosed.
However, reporters have noted that the referral comes weeks after a reported incident at Charleston International Airport, where an internal airport report alleged a tense interaction between the congresswoman and airport police over a travel security misunderstanding. According to that report, the situation escalated into a public disagreement.
Rep. Mace has strongly disputed the accuracy of that internal account, stating publicly that the report was inaccurate and misleading. No criminal charges were filed, and no law enforcement action resulted from the incident.
The Ethics Committee also acknowledged that Rep. Mace is currently running in a competitive Republican primary as she seeks the GOP nomination for governor of South Carolina—an effort that has drawn increased public and media attention.
In its statement, the committee reiterated a critical point often overlooked in Washington coverage:
The disclosure of a referral does not mean wrongdoing occurred and should not be interpreted as evidence of misconduct.
According to the OCC, the agency functions as an independent, non-partisan body created in 2008 to conduct preliminary reviews of ethics complaints involving House members. Only the Ethics Committee itself has the authority to determine whether a violation occurred or whether any disciplinary action is warranted.
The committee stated it will announce its next steps in the matter on or before March 2, 2026.
As of this writing, Rep. Mace has not commented directly on the ethics review via her official or personal accounts on X. Her most recent public message focused instead on warning South Carolina residents about dangerous winter weather conditions.
Ethics reviews in Congress are relatively common and frequently conclude without findings or penalties. Until the committee completes its process, no conclusions have been reached.
